Vodafone denies Verizon bid

Vodafone has denied that
it is making a $160 billion bid for its US partner in the wireless phone
business, Verizon Communications.

The Financial Times reported earlier that
the company was considering making an offer, but warned it may not
happen. Vodafone said there were no such plans and a spokesman said today
that it wanted to put an end to speculation over Vodafone's 45 percent
stake in New Jersey-based Verizon Wireless.

Most observers said that it
would be impossible to get such a deal past the US regulators.